 Faulk in 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| Colorado Buffaloes | |||||||||||||||
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| Title | Running backs coach | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | (1973-02-26)February 26, 1973 (age 52) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight | 211 lb (96 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school | G. W. Carver (New Orleans) | ||||||||||||||
| College | San Diego State (1991–1993) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1994: 1st round,2nd overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
Playing | |||||||||||||||
Coaching | |||||||||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||
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Marshall William Faulk (born February 26, 1973) is an Americanfootball coach and former professionalrunning back who is the running backs coach for theColorado Buffaloes. Faulk previously played in theNational Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons, most notably with theSt. Louis Rams. He is regarded as one of the greatest running backs of all time.[2][3]
Faulk playedcollege football for theSan Diego State Aztecs, twice receivingunanimous All-American honors. He was selected second overall in the1994 NFL draft by theIndianapolis Colts, where he spent his five seasons and earned twoPro Bowl selections. Faulk spent his next seven seasons with the Rams, becoming a central contributor to theGreatest Show on Turf offense. As a member of the Rams, Faulk was namedNFL Most Valuable Player in 2000, won a record threeAP NFL Offensive Player of the Year awards, extended his Pro Bowl selections to seven, and received three consecutive first-teamAll-Pro selections. He also appeared in two Super Bowls and wonSuper Bowl XXXIV. Following his playing career, Faulk was an analyst for various programs onNFL Network until December 2017.[4]
Faulk is one of only three NFL players to reach at least 10,000 rushing yards and 5,000 receiving yards and the only to amass 12,000 yards rushing and 6,000 yards receiving.[5] He was inducted to thePro Football Hall of Fame in 2011 and theCollege Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
Faulk was born and raised inNew Orleans, Louisiana. He attendedCarver High School in theNinth Ward of New Orleans,[6] where he played for the Carver Ramshigh school football team. Also a standouttrack sprinter, Faulk was timed at 10.3 seconds in the100 meters, 21.74 over200 meters, and 49.4 in the400 meters.[citation needed] While growing up he sold popcorn atNew Orleans Saints games in theLouisiana Superdome.[7]
During his final two years playing for Carver High, Faulk rushed 1,800 yards and scored thirty-two touchdowns. In his senior season, he also played defensive back, intercepting 11 passes and returning six of them for touchdowns.[8]
Faulk was heavily recruited by several major colleges, but due to his standout performance on defense, most of them recruited him to play the cornerback position. However, Faulk strongly desired to play the running back position in college. "I didn't love playing cornerback, so I knew I wouldn't be as successful in that position," Faulk toldSports Illustrated Kids. "You have to really love what you do to be a star." Ultimately he accepted an athletic scholarship to attendSan Diego State University, because they were the first team to offer him a scholarship to play running back.[9][10]
One of the best performances of his career was against theUniversity of the Pacific on September 14, 1991, in just his second collegiate game. In 37 carries, he amassed 386 yards and scored seven touchdowns, both records for freshmen (the 386 yards were a then-NCAA record). "Faulk had scoring runs of 61, 7, 47, 9, 5, 8 and 25 yards."[11] That performance sparked one of the greatest freshman seasons inNCAA history, gaining 1,429 yards rushing, with 1,630 total yards from scrimmage, 23 total touchdowns (21 rushing), and 140 points scored. At the end of the year, Faulk joinedTony Dorsett andHerschel Walker as one of just three true freshmen ever selected to theCollege Football All-America Team by the Associated Press.[8]
Faulk went on to better 1,600 yards rushing in his sophomore year. In Faulk's junior season in 1993, he was finally able to showcase his all-purpose ability by catching 47 passes for 640 yards and 3 touchdowns to go with 1,530 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground. These numbers put Faulk 3rd in the nation in all-purpose yardage that year, and 2nd in scoring. Faulk left San Diego State University with many of the school's offensive records, among them 5,562 all-purpose yards and 62 career touchdowns, which is the 8th most in NCAA history.[12]
After his 1992 season at SDSU, Faulk finished second in theHeisman Trophy award voting, losing to quarterbackGino Torretta in what was considered a notable snub in the history of the award.[13] Torretta's1992 Miami Hurricanes football team was undefeated in the regular season and ranked No. 1 in the country before the Heisman balloting, Faulk's team finished with a middling 5–5–1 record, continuing a trend of the Heisman going to the most notable player on one of the nation's best teams. ESPN analystLee Corso led a campaign supporting Torretta for the Heisman and left Marshall Faulk off of his ballot.[14] Faulk was a Heisman finalist as well in 1991 (9th) and 1993 (4th).[15][16]
In 1992, Faulk was named Arthur Ashe Sports Scholar Jr. byDiverse: Issues In Higher Education.[17]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft10+1⁄8 in (1.78 m) | 206 lb (93 kg) | 31+3⁄4 in (0.81 m) | 9+1⁄8 in (0.23 m) | 4.35 s | ||||||||
| All values fromNFL Combine[18][19] | ||||||||||||
Along with defensive tackleDan Wilkinson and quarterbacksHeath Shuler andTrent Dilfer, Faulk was regarded as "one of the four players who rank well above the others in this draft".[20][19] and on March 31, he ran a 4.35 forty-yard time at the San Diego State Pro Day.[21] The Bengals had the No. 1 pick in the1994 NFL draft, and contemplated combining their heavy-duty runnerHarold Green with the explosive Faulk,[12] but picked Wilkinson, leaving Faulk for theIndianapolis Colts.
Faulk was drafted in the first round with the second overall pick in the1994 NFL draft by theIndianapolis Colts, who were in desperate need of a running game.[22] On July 25, 1994, Faulk signed a seven-year $17.2 million contract and received a $5.1 million signing bonus.[23] Faulk responded by rushing for 1,282 yards, 11 touchdowns, and one receiving touchdown.[24] The Colts improved to 8–8. Marshall Faulk, later that season, would become the first NFL player to win both the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award and the Pro Bowl's Most Valuable Player Award in the same season. He was also the first rookie to win Pro Bowl MVP.[25]
The next season Faulk rushed for 1,078 yards and 14 total touchdowns.[24] The Colts made the postseason, going 9–7, and narrowly missed theSuper Bowl after a close loss to thePittsburgh Steelers in theAFC Championship Game, which Faulk missed due to a nagging toe injury.
The next year was a miserable one for Faulk. Because of a toe injury he suffered earlier in the season, he rushed for only 587 yards, with a 3 yards-per-carry average. He led the Colts in yards from scrimmage with 1,015.[24] He recovered from the injury and rushed for 1,000+ yards in each of the next two seasons, setting a new personal high with 1,319 in 1998.[24] He also caught 86 passes for 906 yards that year (playing alongside rookie quarterbackPeyton Manning) and was the NFL's leader in total yards from scrimmage with 2,227, beating out Denver's MVP running backTerrell Davis by 2 yards, while also finishing 4th in the league in receptions. It would also be the first of an NFL-record 4 consecutive 2,000+ total-yard seasons.
Faulk was traded to theSt. Louis Rams the following season for second- and fifth-round picks in the upcoming draft (which the Colts used to draft LBMike Peterson and DEBrad Scioli). The Colts moved on at the position, draftingEdgerrin James in the first round. Faulk held out for 12 days as the details of his contract were worked out. On August 4, 1999, Faulk signed a seven-year, $45.2 million contract with the Rams, which was the biggest deal in team history at the time. In it, Faulk was guaranteed $9.6 million including a $7-million signing bonus. The problem in negotiations was the proposed fifth year, in which Faulk would get $7 million in salary and a $5-million roster bonus. The deal was structured to prevent Faulk from ever being tagged a transition or franchise player.[26]
In his first year in St. Louis, Faulk was the catalyst for "The Greatest Show on Turf", a nickname given to coordinatorMike Martz's aggressiveCoryell-style offense. In this offense, he put up some of the best all-purpose numbers in the history of the NFL. Faulk's patience and diligence in learning the Rams' offense paid off when he totaled an NFL record 2,429 yards from scrimmage, eclipsing Barry Sanders's record of 2,358 yards set in 1997 (Faulk's mark has since been broken byChris Johnson in 2009). With 1,381 yards rushing (5.5 yards-per-carry average), 1,048 receiving yards, and scoring 12 touchdowns, Faulk joinedRoger Craig as the only men at that time to total 1,000+ yards in each category in a season.[24] He also broke the NFL season record for most receiving yards by a running back, previously held byLionel James.[27] The Rams went on to winSuper Bowl XXXIV. In the game, Faulk was contained on the ground byTennessee Titans head coachJeff Fisher's defensive scheme, limiting him to just 17 rushing yards. This was perhaps due to the Titans' inability to stop the Rams' passing game, of which Faulk was a major part, recording 5 receptions for 90 yards. His 90 receiving yards were the second-highest total by a running back in Super Bowl history. At the end of the season, he received theNFL Offensive Player of the Year Award and was a starter for the NFC squad in the1999 Pro Bowl.
The following year, Faulk became the first running back in NFL history to lead his team in receptions five separate seasons (three in Indianapolis and twice in St. Louis). In addition, he was the NFL MVP and again the Offensive Player of the Year in 2000. He had 1,359 yards rushing in 14 games and set a new NFL record with 26 total touchdowns, (a record that would soon be broken byPriest Holmes and then later byShaun Alexander andLaDainian Tomlinson), despite missing two games due to injury.[24] He also averaged 5+ yards per carry again, this time with 5.4.[24] The Rams, however, were not able to replicate the record they had the year prior. Even with the offense scoring the most points and yards during "The Greatest Show on Turf" era, the defense gave up 470 points.
The Rams returned to theSuper Bowl the next year as their defense returned to form, allowing only 273 points, and the offense once again scored over 500 points, with 503. St. Louis lost on a lateAdam Vinatieri field goal, 20–17, as Faulk totaled 76 rushing yards and 54 receiving yards. Faulk had another excellent season, rushing 260 times for a career-high 1,382 yards (5.3 yards per carry), and catching 83 passes for 765 yards, for an NFC-leading total of 2,147 yards from scrimmage (second in the NFL only toPriest Holmes, who totaled 2,169 yards) and scoring 21 touchdowns despite once again missing 2 games to injuries.[24] Faulk won the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year award for the third straight season, but finished second in a close vote to teammateKurt Warner in the MVP vote. These years would be the climax of Faulk's career.
Faulk's injuries and age would soon catch up to him; 2001 was the last of his 1,000-yard rushing seasons,[24] and though he was still employed as the Rams' primary running back following the 2001 season, he was no longer the player he was in his prime, despite remaining a respected and effective player.
On July 29, 2002, Faulk signed a new seven-year, $43.95 million contract with the Rams. Faulk was about to enter the fourth year of his 1999 contract. In the new contract, Faulk received a $10.7 million signing bonus.[28] In the 2002 season the Rams struggled and finished the year at 7–9. Faulk played in 14 games and started 10 and ended with 953 yards and 80 receptions. The following season, he played in and started 11 games, finishing with 818 yards and 45 receptions as the Rams rebounded with a 12–4 record.
In 2004, Faulk split time with rookieSteven Jackson and played in 14 games and rushing for 774 yards. In February 2005, Faulk agreed to a restructured contract to reduce his contract cap number. He was scheduled to make about $7.5 million in 2005. With the new contract he received a total of $6 million in the next two seasons and a $2 million signing bonus was included.[29] The 2005 season was Faulk's last in the NFL. He rushed for only 292 yards on 65 carries and caught 44 passes for 291 yards and one touchdown. This marked the only time in his career where he did not have a rushing touchdown.
On July 21, the Rams announced that Faulk would undergo reconstructive knee surgery and miss the entire 2006 NFL season. During the season Faulk served as an analyst for theNFL Network'sNFL Total Access.[citation needed]
During anNBC Sunday Night Footballhalftime show, Faulk was asked by one of the announcers, "So are you retired or not?" Faulk said that he was still a Ram, and would be a Ram for the rest of his life. He then said that if the Rams would have him back, he would play next year, as he was able to run full speed on his re-built knees, but on March 26, 2007, Faulk announced his retirement from football.[30]
On November 29, 2007, the Rams announced that they would be retiring Faulk's number. The ceremony was held during halftime of a Thursday night game against thePittsburgh Steelers on December 20, 2007. In 2010 on the NFL Network'sThe Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players, Faulk was voted the number 70 player of all time.[31]
In 2011, Faulk's first year of eligibility, he was elected into thePro Football Hall of Fame.[32] As a running back, he placed first in receiving yards (6,875), second in pass receptions (767), second in receiving touchdowns (36), third in yards from scrimmage (19,154), and tenth in rushing yards (12,280).[33]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| APNFL MVP &OPOTY | |
| AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year | |
| Won theSuper Bowl | |
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1994 | IND | 16 | 16 | 314 | 1,282 | 4.1 | 52 | 11 | 52 | 522 | 10.0 | 85T | 1 |
| 1995 | IND | 16 | 16 | 289 | 1,078 | 3.7 | 40 | 11 | 56 | 475 | 8.5 | 34 | 3 |
| 1996 | IND | 13 | 13 | 198 | 587 | 3.0 | 43 | 7 | 56 | 428 | 7.6 | 30 | 0 |
| 1997 | IND | 16 | 16 | 264 | 1,054 | 4.0 | 45 | 7 | 47 | 471 | 10.0 | 58 | 1 |
| 1998 | IND | 16 | 15 | 324 | 1,319 | 4.1 | 68T | 6 | 86 | 908 | 10.6 | 78T | 4 |
| 1999 | STL | 16 | 16 | 253 | 1,381 | 5.5 | 58 | 7 | 87 | 1,048 | 12.0 | 57T | 5 |
| 2000 | STL | 14 | 14 | 253 | 1,359 | 5.4 | 36 | 18 | 81 | 830 | 10.2 | 72T | 8 |
| 2001 | STL | 14 | 14 | 260 | 1,382 | 5.3 | 71T | 12 | 83 | 765 | 9.2 | 65T | 9 |
| 2002 | STL | 14 | 10 | 212 | 953 | 4.5 | 44 | 8 | 80 | 537 | 6.7 | 40 | 2 |
| 2003 | STL | 11 | 11 | 209 | 818 | 3.9 | 52 | 10 | 45 | 290 | 6.4 | 30 | 1 |
| 2004 | STL | 14 | 14 | 195 | 774 | 4.0 | 40 | 3 | 50 | 310 | 6.2 | 25 | 1 |
| 2005 | STL | 16 | 1 | 65 | 292 | 4.5 | 20 | 0 | 44 | 291 | 6.6 | 18 | 1 |
| Career | 176 | 156 | 2,836 | 12,279 | 4.3 | 71T | 100 | 767 | 6,875 | 9.0 | 85T | 36 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1995 | IND | 1 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 16.0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | IND | 1 | 1 | 9 | 25 | 2.8 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 7.6 | 3.3 | 0 |
| 1999 | STL | 3 | 3 | 38 | 82 | 2.2 | 11 | 1 | 13 | 175 | 13.5 | 52 | 1 |
| 2000 | STL | 1 | 1 | 14 | 24 | 1.7 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 99 | 14.1 | 35 | 1 |
| 2001 | STL | 3 | 3 | 64 | 317 | 5.0 | 38 | 3 | 14 | 114 | 8.1 | 23 | 0 |
| 2003 | STL | 1 | 1 | 19 | 53 | 2.8 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 78 | 8.7 | 25 | 0 |
| 2004 | STL | 2 | 2 | 20 | 85 | 4.3 | 13 | 1 | 6 | 43 | 7.2 | 14 | 0 |
| Career | 12 | 12 | 165 | 602 | 3.6 | 38 | 6 | 52 | 519 | 10.0 | 52 | 2 | |
Faulk was a longtimeNFL Network analyst. He served as an analyst onNFL Total Access, where he provided a player's perspective on today's game. He also appeared onThursday Night Football's pre-game, halftime and post-game shows, and Sunday'sNFL GameDay Morning. Faulk was suspended from the network on December 12, 2017, along with fellow ex-playersHeath Evans andIke Taylor, after sexual harassment allegations were made against the three by a former network wardrobe stylist.[4]
Faulk played himself in season 1, episode 12 of the sitcomLife in Pieces. This episode first aired on January 7, 2016, on CBS.
Faulk was inducted into thePro Football Hall of Fame in 2011 in his first year of eligibility. He was also inducted into theIndianapolis Colts Ring of Honor during the week 15 game against theHouston Texans on December 15, 2013, along withEric Dickerson, another former Colt running back (who also played for the Rams, albeit when they were in Los Angeles).[41]
On February 6, 2025, Faulk was hired as running backs coach for theColorado Buffaloes football team of theBig 12 Conference.[42]
Faulk was married to Lindsay Stoudt from 2006 to 2014. He has six children, including three with Stoudt.[43][44] His son, Marshall Faulk Jr., played running back for theCentral Washington Wildcats.[45]
Faulk has a charitable foundation inSan Diego.[46] His childhood friend Tyrone Wilson helped him start his foundation.[citation needed] Faulk is a cousin ofKevin Faulk, a formerNFL running back.[47][48]
In 2009, Faulk was inducted into theSan Diego Hall of Champions.[49][50]
Since at least 2019, Faulk has served as a spokesman for theFoundation for a Drug-Free World, aScientologyfront group.[51]
This do-it-all back is one of just three players in the history of the NFL to gain 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season. He also holds the NFL record for the most consecutive seasons with at least 2,000 yards from scrimmage (4). Faulk is a Super Bowl champion (XXXIV), took home two NFL MVP awards (2000, '01), and is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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| National | |